Ben Summerskill said at the LibDem Conference LGBT group when we proposed Equal Marriage in 2010, that it would cost the country millions of pounds if that were to happen. A few weeks later he was all for it. What hypocrisy.

I’m not one to hold grudges, what you say is true but I’d rather forgive people for past mistakes so long as they are doing the right thing now.
Ben and Stonewall has come on-board for marriage equality and I’m much happier about that than if he had remained uncommitted to it.

I have never asked Ben Summerskill or any of his unelected colleagues to speak on my queer arse’s behalf, thank you.

The fact that he radically changed his position on same-sex marriage in my books says it all. He shouldn’t have had to ‘evolve’ his views as you put it, he should have fought from day one for equality, not some compromise that we have now.

The similarities to Cardinal O Brien and his church and Stonewall are quite striking – both are unelected and both claim to speak for a group of people who neither bother to consult with, but yet confidently speak out on their/our behalf.

“Religious bigots come in many different shapes and forms — depending on whose divine authority they presume to possess — but a common ideology that binds them across the world is stupidity.”
(Amish Raj Mulmi, The Kathmandu Post)

I’m always in two minds about this award, half of those nominated are so deep in denial they wouldn’t accept the epithet regardless and the other half tend to wear their homophobic bigotry as a badge of honour.
I agree that Cardinal O’Brien is probably the most high profile homophobe in the UK, though there are various politicians in Uganda and USA evangelists just for starters who would beat him hands down, not to mention the Pope.
Stephen Green wishes he had that kind of influence.

The Priest of a small village was very fond of his flock of ten hens and a cockerel. He kept them in a hen house behind the parish, but one Saturday night, the cockerel was missing. The priest, suspecting fowl play decided to say something about it at church the next morning. At Mass, he asked the congregation, has anyone got a cock? To which all the men stood up. “No,no,” he said, somewhat flustered, “that’s not what I meant. “Has anybody SEEN a cock?” All the women stood up. “No, no,” he said. “Thats not what I meant either. Has anyone seen a cock that doesn’t belong to them.” Half the women stood up. “No, no,” He said, now thoroughly embarrassed “Perhaps I should rephrase the question: Has anybody here seen MY cock?” All the choirboys stood up.

“Do not be deceived – the Bible is clear in its condemnation of bigotry. Some liberals and those who wish to excuse their sin have attempted to confuse the issue by pointing to similar passages which are ignored, and even inventing implausible contextual background to explain why the Bible doesn’t really mean what it says. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, it is clear to anyone who approaches it honestly that the entirety of scripture clearly identifies bigotry as a sin.”

Well deserved and congratulations to him, he’s alienating moderate thinkers to support equal marriage.. Expect a tongue lashing from the self-loather once he learns of his new status and celebrity.

I’m surprised Lord Carey wasn’t one of the recipients and that awful Peter Bone(head), Nadine Dorries, now there’s a real hypocrite and bigot as well as adulteress. There are so many Tories to pick from.

Cardinal O’Brien was appointed by the Pope and serves at this pleasure,like all the other Vatican lapdogs who wear the miter. What else would you expect him to say? Incidentally all that money, mostly from the laity, which he proposes to spend fighting equal marriage could be better spent helping the victims of his pederast priests

He writes – ““The Bigot of the Year Award is a vicious name-calling Stonewall annual event that reflects more on the donor than the recipient. By attempting to bully, intimidate, humiliate and generate hatred of individuals through the Award, Stonewall fully justifies the Gaystapo tag which I gave the organisation and for which apparently I have been nominated.

“Nonetheless if I win the Award over the other candidates and if Stonewall invite me, and permit me without harassment to offer a proper acceptance speech, I plan to attend their Awards dinner and ceremony at the Raphael Gallery on 1st November.”